Glen Osborne officials hold the line on real estate taxes for next year

Glen Osborne property owners will not have to pay more in real estate taxes next year.

Council unanimously voted Dec. 19 to pass its 2024 budget and maintain the tax rate at 4.9 mills.

Budgeted revenues and expenditures were balanced at about $793,000.

Projected income includes about $380,000 in real estate taxes, $265,000 in earned income tax, $30,000 in real estate transfer taxes, $16,000 in Regional Asset District tax distribution, $9,000 in local services tax, $8,000 in building permits and $8,000 in cable TV franchise fees.

Proposed spending includes about $217,000 for administration, including salaries, supplies, insurances and solicitor services; $133,400 for police service; $121,000 for roads; $109,200 for sanitation; $53,000 for public service, including beautification and military recognition programs; $36,000 for fire protection; $15,000 for code enforcement, and $6,000 for ambulance service.

“This is a win for everyone in this room,” council President Tom Huddleston said shortly before the vote. “We’re one of the lowest tax rates in the Quaker Valley area. … To be able to stay flat in this economy is just tremendous. This borough is fiscally strong. That’s something I take great pride in.”

He commended Holly Merriman, councilwoman and finance committee chair, and Borough Secretary/Treasurer Diane Vierling for crafting the budget.

Merriman said budgeting is a team effort, though Vierling does most of the work.

“She keeps excellent records over the course of the year, which makes the process go quickly and smoothly,” Merriman said of Vierling. “Each committee chair tracks their plans for the upcoming year and we prioritize together to come up with a plan that balances the needs of the borough, with a desire to be good stewards of public funds.”

One of this year’s financial highlights involves the earned income tax. Merriman said those funds came in over budget.

The borough planned to receive $215,000. About $244,500 was collected as of Dec. 19.

“The wage earners of Glen Osborne make more money than we expected them to,” Merriman said “That’s a reflection of the economy. We made a good guess, and things were even better than our good guess.”

The borough also came in under budget this year for snow removal and salt due to a light winter.

Glen Osborne has about $830,000 in reserves.

“We have a good safety net for whatever comes our way,” Merriman said.

In other business

• Council approved working with the Quaker Valley Council of Governments and the law firm Cohen Law Group to negotiate cable franchise agreement renewals.

Vierling said the more communities that sign on with QVCOG for this service the better the chances of a discount.

• Newly elected Councilman Joshua Lambert introduced himself to his new colleagues at the meeting.

He will be sworn in, along with incumbents Huddleston and Bill Monski, at the reorganization meeting 7 p.m. Jan. 2 at Osborne Elementary.